El Capitán
Lions’ captain Luis Nani extended his team lead to six goals on the year last Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, his 84th-minute golazo serving as the game-winner in that fixture. With the finish, the Portuguese international has found the back of the net in three-consecutive matches, with three assists to add in that stretch as well, having a hand in six of City’s last nine goals. Tallying the assist on Chris Mueller’s finish that leveled the two sides, Nani now sits one helper shy of Mueller and Kaká (22) for the Club’s all-time assist record.
Nine in Seven
Taking the pitch a total of three times in a seven-day span, the Lions took nine points from last week’s slate of matches, the first time in Club-history the team has done so in such a stretch. With victories over Toronto FC, San Jose and Inter Miami CF, City finished the week with a +7 goal-differential, conceding just three times. Sitting at 21 points through 10 matches, the Lions set a new Club-record for the best start in their history, beating out the previous record of 19 set in both 2017 and 2018.
Cash Bagged
After sitting tied for the team lead in assists since late April, Chris Mueller netted his first finish of the calendar year on Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, hitting a first-time strike off a cross from Nani straight into the back of the net. The finish put Mueller at three-consecutive matches with a goal contribution, now with 20 goals and 22 assists in all competitions in his MLS career.
Last Time in the 407
In the Red Bulls last visit to downtown Orlando, the Lions took a 3-1 victory over the visitors on Oct. 3. Daryl Dike found the back of the net in the first half of that match, with Júnior Urso doubling the advantage just after the halftime break. Antonio Carlos would go on to add the insurance late in second-half stoppage time, good for his first MLS goal.
Keep it Rolling
City will look for its fourth-consecutive win on Saturday after returning from the international break, facing the very opposition who gave the side its only loss of the year in late May. Six different Lions have found the back of the net in its last three fixtures, bagging 10 goals in three matches after starting the year with eight in seven contests. Nani led the way last week with three, followed by Daryl Dike and Benji Michel each recording a brace against San Jose last Tuesday. Tesho Akindele, Júnior Urso and Chris Mueller rounded out the scoring for the Lions at one apiece in the Club’s return to action.
Milestone Tracker
- Nani is one assist away from tying the Club all-time record, currently held by Chris Mueller and Kaká (22). Mueller could take sole possession of that record with his next helper.
- Nani’s next appearance will be his 65th for City.
- Chris Mueller’s next start will serve as the 75th of his professional career.
- Uri Rosell sits five appearances away from 100 in MLS.
- Kyle Smith’s next start will be his 40th as a Lion.
- Daryl Dike’s next start will serve as his 20th in MLS.
